Dungeon World PBP play (Inactive)

Game Master Elsine

At least we didn't bomb scout

Mountain crew

After a few false starts, a few more detours, and one moment of absolute terror as Tom almost walks off a cliff that wasn't on the map, you are on the right path.

a day in, Belym spots a Gryphon circling overhead. you can't help but suspect that the meat in Ron's pack has something to do with its behavior. What do you do?

Ron fails to notice the Gryphon, as now both Tom and Belym are glaring at him. WHAT?!

Tom says, Ron, I don't mind your newfound gluttony so much - I carry a few pounds above what age alone can justify - but your sweet meat treats has a fan club. Tom points to the sky, I'm unfamiliar with this thing, but is there a way t' simply give it what it wants and avoid a fight? I think Belym and I would be at a disadvantage here...

Belym thinks back to her days with Scath, tracking her cousins. What had the ranger said about his encounter with a gryphon?

Spout Lore: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14

Ron looks up in the sky, curses, and dismounts quickly. He dumps the best rations on the ground and begins to move away, eyes warily on the flying beast.

Roshan

Sounds like a plan. Merrick says, cutting himself another piece of meat pie How are we gonna play this, how do we set up?

And who do we summon first, Sir? Cassandra adds.

Belym

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lines O' Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stay low. Scath whispered, directing you into a covered position. he point up, toward a being that looks like a cross between a n eagle, and a mountain cat. Don't want that girl to spot us. Gryphons are dangerous on the best of days, but they're especially bad in autumn. Storing up fat for the winter. a your look of confusion, he continues A gryphon is a weird eagle-lion thing. Wizard probably made the first bunch of 'em, for whatever reason wizards alway have for doing weird stuff like that. anyway, don't wanna get spotted by one. they're fast, and tenacious, damn hard to lose. Harder to fight, can't hit em in the air, 'less you got incredible aim, which is hard when you're getting dive bombed by the worlds biggest sparrow. he pauses as the beast dives. there is a tell, and a shriek, and the Gryphon reappears, flying off with a deer in it's talons. real territorial too, make their nests out of gold, so buggers come from all over to steal em, trample their eggs and all that. really defensive near their nest. my advice, if you see a golden nest, walk away slowly... and then run.

Ron

The mountain paths are too steep for horses, which is just as well, cause you don't want to take a horse into Gryphon territory. and that move sounds like Parleying with the beast, don't you agree?

So we have left our horses behind on this trip? Sounds good to me. Do you think it is a parley, or just a DD (Cha)? I'm not sure I have any leverage for a parley, but I'll leave that up to you. Here's the Cha roll.

Move+Cha: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 1) - 1 = 1

My favorite ever PbtA roll!

The food would have been leverage... a simple "You take the food, and we leave eachother alone" type thing

Also, I was really tempted to have Scath refer to the Flashback!Gryphon as a "sheila"

I look at the group leaving for the mountains, then at my sword, then at Roshan.

So...we'll be...accountants for the day? This seems to be a...poor use of my talents.

Roshan looks at Conwall, blinking rapidly, her lips pressed into a fine line. "There will be a time for crushing displays of-"

"Don't sweat it Cornball," Cassandra breaks in. "We've got a snowball's chance in hell of getting out of this without killing someone. Sir Bucanero'll get us out of jail though. He's got a huge bag of money. I'll bet they'll even take the infernal coin."

Roshan's hand rests on Cassandra's shoulder, and the former cultist flinches. "I will write a formal letter to the duchess expressing our suspicions and our intent to avoid undesirable bloodshed." As if such a thing exists. "Conwall, you will address the court with our need to audit the major holdings as Cassandra, Merrick and I will be covering the known exits, should one of the snakes make the mistake of bolting."

There's a pause as Roshan tracks back to the original questions. "We'll summon them alphabetically. We cannot be seen to be targeting anyone. Also, to do so we will need the enigma's name."

Our team is not good at subtlety...

Cause there's nothing suspicious about people covering the exits

We were just partying it up with the guards. The stonefaced murderlady is just chatting up a recent acquaintance. >.>
At least we have our only positive charisma score doing the talking...

I nod at her enthusiastically. Remind me out cover story? Why would anyone submit to us for an audit?

I don't think it's buying it, Ron. Belym, can you take us underground?

Belym keeps one eye on the sky as she studies the nearby landscape. Pulling her hammer, she taps on the stones and listens to the echoes, trying to tell if there's any nearby cover, or a shallow tunnel she could dig a path to.

Discern Realities: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 3) + 1 = 9
What here is useful or valuable to me?

Cassandra folds her hands behind her back and delivers a recitation. "Sinners at court hear with two ears. The first in the interest of the state, the second in the interest of their holding."

Roshan nods with a beaming smile. "What we will say is that, in order to understand how best to allocate our resources, we must make an assessment of Eloen's existing resources. What we hope they will hear is that we have resources we are giving away. Rumors of our generosity will have spread from the guardhouse up. Nobles who have nothing to hide, or who are confident they have hidden their secrets well, will be happy to present their case. Conwall, if there is anything else you think I should know, now would be the time to tell me."

I'd like to open with a Discern Realities of the area around the court, but a Spout Lore might also be useful before we get started. Also, I don't think Roshan has heard about the Point. Not sure if it's a good idea to tell her though.

There's a demon hunter in court, and she can smell demonic influence on people. She'll likely kill all of us if she ever meets you. If she discovers what we suspect is going on, she'll call her friends and they'll turn this whole kingdom into a crater I think.

Nope, I think we're all covered I say.

Before we head to court, I put on my finest garb, my big plumed hat (that I travel with, yes. Don't you travel with your fine hat?) and even shine Perceval.

If we're doing this, we're doing this with style.

Let me know when you're done with your reconnaissance and I'll have them announce us to the court.

Roshan, Cassandra, and Merrick walk the halls around the court, following paths that trace regular tasks each of them might be performing and which extend beyond the inner court. Roshan makes a note of any familiar faces from the guard, delivering a stiff greeting as she collects paper and ink. Cassandra stops to have an argument with a servant who she says was supposed to deliver hot water to Sir Roshan. Merrick does Merrick things.

Discern Realities: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 5) + 1 = 11
What happened here recently?
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is not what it appears to be?

When they are done, they meet back with Conwall as he finishes dressing up for the occasion. Roshan hands Conwall the sealed letter detailing the party's true intentions.

Ron

The Gryphon ignores the food, instead choosing to dive at you three DD, everyone. it ould seem the Gryphon isn't trying to get at food, it is trying to kill you three. what do you do?

Belym

You can feel a crevice in a cliff-face, maybe 80 meters away, just beyond a bunch of trees, that would be too small for the Gryphon to follow you into. also, BotE would let you make a good deal of cover. what do you do?

Conwall and Kaur, PI's

You enter the throne room, and find court already in session. they appear to be aguing about troop distribution (daelorin and Urisatra are arguing for incendiary troops to be sent into the quarantine zone, to keep the plague away, Perrora and Enrel are arguing for more border guards, and less in the capitol, where they will likely be infected. The rest are arguing to protect the capitol primarily)

everyone stops as you enter. Roshan, you notice that 4 people (Enrel, Daelorin, Perrora, and Urisatra) have armed attendants, and another two (Jodithas and Ravabella) have tattendants you would bet are mages. The aristocracy seems to be closing ranks and protecting themselves after your arrival

From their body language and their looks, as well as their attendants, it would seem that Urisatra, Ravabella, Jodias, and Enrel all consider you threats.

Three of the guards look decidedly uncomfortable in their armour. if you were to guess, you would say that one of the nobles has disguised some of their own soldiers as the piscine-armoured guards, for added security, or some more nefarious purpose.

when The lady receives the letter, she skims it, before putting it down. Godslayer, you've a talent for politely obscuring your methods. I will need to understand your intentions more thoroughly before I order my court to submit to your investigation. What exactly would this entail? she asks. What do you do?

I clear my throat.

Estemed members of the court. I speak to you not as the voice of the elves, but as an individual. We are here to help. To best understand how to allocate our resources we need to better understand yours. We propose a comprehensive but unobtrusive audit of your holdings. Upon completion, we'll distribute aid. Your cooperation will be I clear my throat again Appreciated

Roshan balks, suddenly faced with uncertainty about the way forward. Any time they had been in court, Danyal had done all of the talking. She always seemed to have the right answer, where Roshan seemed to only have one. She had planned for Conwall to do the talking, and she was very glad he was able to step forward, but she did not expect to be addressed directly. She didn't expect to be in the room.

"Duchess, our first step requires only that they answer a series of straightforward questions. I will have my initiate with me, they may bring a guard if they choose, and your oversight shall be represented by your choice of two persons. I can give my recommendations for how to proceed with the ressults, but it is only by your leave that we perform any follow up. Of course, this must be a complete audit. We need even the lowest voice heard. Should an individual have scheduling conflicts, I would be glad to come to them. It is often the most harried noble person who is in need of attention."

Roshan makes a show of eyeing the peiscene guards. "To represent your interests, I would not choose this guard. They are new to the post, if they are on the roster at all. See how they stand a little short for their armor- something I would not expect from your careful industry."

Tom aims to have it chomp down on his sword to block the diving attack.

Defy Danger(Con): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9

The brittle blade snaps in the beak, the jagged toxic metal explodes into shrapnel... but the attack was stopped, so there's that.

Ron raises his shield and attempts to bash the talons aside.

DD (Str): 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 = 8

The shield is rend in two and Ron is thrown backwards, but he avoids injury. He stands, takes Remorse in two hands, and launches it at the beast.

Cast MM: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 6) + 3 = 13

Reckless Aggression - Best of these two rolls:

Damage 1: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Damage 2: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

In the throne room

The duchess nods Eirion is our state treasurer. She nods at the old man in the corner He will send you our records, dating back two years. and If you have further inquirys, he will happily answer them.

I assume Lady Jodithas Sneers That our non-compliance will be taken as Prima facie of treason. she takes a moment to give a withering gaze to Roshan or perhaps Heresy?

This is not an inquisitorial investigation, Orilanae. Your Occult... fascinations will not come under scrutiny, merely your finances and personel. Lady Eolen says. The reaction of the court suggests that the "Occult fascinations" were an open secret. (Conwall Oddly enough, the point hasn't found any evidence of asmodian influence. perhaps a non-demonic form of occultism...)

Sirs, do you have a preference who you interview first?

Lexigraphical by family name should suffice. We need to cover everyone.

I give a warm smile to Lady Jodithas. Worry not, your Ladyship. We're professional accountants, not inquisitors. I give Catastrophe a gentle pat. The only thing my sword Obelus and I cut these days is red tape...

Belym tries to time a dive to one side, out of the way of the oncoming claws.

Defy Danger Dex: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14

As she emerges from her roll, she stomps her feet...

Bender of the Elements: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 = 6

And, apparently, utterly fails to pull some useful cover out of the nearby stone.

Far over the Misty Mountains cold

The Gryphon Screeches in indignation as Ron's spear impacts into its flank. It circles around, landing a few meters from yourselves.What do you do?

Belym, in calling up stones to create cover, you discover the tunnels you had hoped to find earlier.... and are dangling over it with one arm, with something moving in the cavern below (and pissed off about being rudely unearthed). What do you do?

Investigators

Very well Raloralei says, I've nothing to hide. I shall meet with you at your convenience.

So, here's the order you will be interrogating them in.

• Briben Daelorin, the woman in green.
• Iartis Enrel: the man in red
• Orilanae Jodithas: the woman in orange
• Eiralath Perrora: the man in lavender
• Giselona Raloralei: the woman in azure
• Aveqwyn Ravabella: the woman in Magenta
• Lorosrin Urisatra: The man in Brown

Roshan could I get a bit about your general line of inquiries, so that the "two truths and a lie" can be realistic (No "well, I'm asking her about the battle, and she's shouting about how she wasn't involved in that coup two months ago")

I would like to use the only weapon I have left - Einora's fire sword - and try to make it shine a bright light to blind the thing in the tunnels since it was just unearthed.

That sounds like defending belym.

The general line of questions will be to the effect of: A) What has been your involvement in the plague efforts? B) If the plague efforts were not the greatest priority of your resources, why was ____ more important? C) Is there an internal conflict which is may prove a challenge moving forward? Anything that might stand out in the records... Mostly looking for leads and provocateurs.

Defend(Belym): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 = 9

hold 1

Tom seeing the shadow below steps in front of Belym and draws Einora's flaming blade, concentrating to have the sword shine bright as possible to stun the creature that has not seen the light.

Maybe we should get past this guy in the tunnels, the flight advantage is lost down there!

Far over the Misty Mountains cold

Belym, in calling up stones to create cover, you discover the tunnels you had hoped to find earlier.... and are dangling over it with one arm, with something moving in the cavern below (and pissed off about being rudely unearthed). What do you do?

Meanwhile Conwall is trying make sense of fantasy world excel, absolutely sure the other group is having more fun

As best she can, Belym tries to haul herself back up to the surface...

Defy Danger Str: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (6, 5) - 1 = 10

Huh. Didn't expect that result!

And then glances back into the pit, trying to determine what creature lurks below.

All the interviews will end with "I thought there were eight of you. I have a list of seven..."

Roshan and Conwall

Briben Daelorin (the woman in green) walks into the room. Her finances indicate that she has actually been profiting greatly since the start of the crisis, largely through a few shops set up around he duchy.

I have been very involved in the crisis. my soldiers have been pattroling the quarantine zone, and I have kepseveral guild alchemists employed creating countermeasures, should all else fail.

I naturally have to keep my guardhouse full, and my coffers, so that we might retain order when the crisis is over.

I have no quarrels that are of any relevance to the situation. we bicker, but I like to think we have set things aside for the greater good, at least for the duration of the plague.

Over the pit

Belym spots the distinctive red and black chitin... this thing is an ankheg (think centipede... now make it bigger than a damned horse, put armour on it, and then have it spit acid, and you've got a good idea of what its like), it seems to be staying away from the blazing sword, but it seems to be trying to find a way to the juicy flesh behind the sword. and the Gryphon is closing in as well, what do you do?

Tom rallies behind the blessing of Iisac.

Cast a Spell(Bless): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 3 = 10 Double the effect, targeting myself, -1 to Cast a Spell.

Tom leaps down to strike the Anheg.

Hack and Slash: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 1 piercing

I'm spending my 1 hold to deal another 6 damage.

Roshan and Conwall

Briben Daelorin (the woman in green) walks into the room. Her finances indicate that she has actually been profiting greatly since the start of the crisis, largely through a few shops set up around he duchy.

I have been very involved in the crisis. my soldiers have been pattroling the quarantine zone, and I have kepseveral guild alchemists employed creating countermeasures, should all else fail.

I naturally have to keep my guardhouse full, and my coffers, so that we might retain order when the crisis is over.

I have no quarrels that are of any relevance to the situation. we bicker, but I like to think we have set things aside for the greater good, at least for the duration of the plague.

So is Roshan supposed to guess which of those is false?

I don't intend to press them, but I do roll to see if I can cut it to a fifty/fifty.
Inquisitor (): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11

"All very good, Lady Daelorin. I cannot speak to what the Duchess will have me do once the audit is complete, but it appears these records are in order."

The first one has to be painless. What's Conwall doing while Roshan and Cassandra are ankle-deep in tax forms?

Unless Conwall needs to be physically blocking the door in order to make this a real inquisition, he's pretending to go through forms, while being ready to kick some ass if anyone gets uppity.

As Tom and Belym face the crab creature, Ron faces down the Gryphon, moving to keep himself between the flying beast and his allies.

Defend Line between Gryphon and allies: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 = 9

I don't want to kill ye, ye mad beast! Shoo!

In the tastefully decorated torture chamber

Her records indicate that she is, indeed, employing a small army of alchemists, and has been amassing enough "countermeasures" to fill a few small storehouses.

Thank you, Sir kaur. She says, bowing as she exits.

Up in the mountains

The Gyrphon launches itself at you, 20 cm claws falling toward you, wings creating powerful gusts.

meanwhile, the Ankheg shakes off most of toms blows, though one it its armoured plates are torn loose. It lunges forward, spitting some bile-w substance from its mouth. what do you do?

"Hope this thing's nestmates aren't nearby" Belym mutters as Tom leaps down. As the beast rears back, Belym once again stomps the earth...

Bender of the Elements: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

And a slab of stone rises up between Tom and the ankheg.

Spending the Bender hold to defend Tom. If I need to roll the move:
Defend Tom: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 = 6

Huh. Let me know if I need to mark XP for that.

Belym

Oh, who am I to deny you XP?

You just manage to get a barrier up against the ankheg's acid. it wasn't nearly thick enough to stay standing afterward, but at least Tom escapes the corrosive liquid.

however, the tremors do, in fact, alert the creatures nestmate (or one of them at least) it latches onto your leg, its mandible cutting into your leg. 1d8+1 damage, and you're gonna wanna get that off your leg. what do you do?

Hack and Slash: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7
Damage to Tom: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Damage to Ankheg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 1 piercing

Tom uses the earthen barrier to leap to the Ankheg hoping to land a blow in its vulnerable spot, and barely escapes its pinning grasp in the counterattack.

Who is Sir kaur?

Roshan. it is her proper title

Oh heck I didn't know. Awesome!

Is the Gryphon coming at me?

Ron uses Remorse's long reach to ward off the Gryphon, thrusting menacingly while yelling.

DD (Stat?): 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

Let's make it Charisma!

Tom

Your blow is enough to bring down the ankheg... just. now you are alone in a cavern, while your allies are fighting up above. the cavern has two branches off of it. one leading south, and one leading east. what do you do?

Ron

your spear comes within inches of the creatures throat, and it knows this... it leaps back, and then scrambles to regain its feet, most of the grace it has in the air gone on land. what do you do?